ArtistWorks, the first collaborative, global learning community comprised of master musicians and ambitious amateurs, announces the June 29th launch of the online, interactive Bass Super School featuring the Rock & Pop Bass School with GRAMMY award-winning Rock/Pop/R&B bassist Nathan East (Eric Clapton/Stevie Wonder/Fourplay), the Jazz Bass School from GRAMMY award-winning Jazz bassist John Patitucci (Chick Corea/Herbie Hancock/Sting) and the Bluegrass Bass School from 7-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award-winner, Missy Raines. The new ArtistWorks Bass Campus offers the everyday bass player unprecedented access to a “triple threat” of the world’s top bass players in three distinctly different musical genres and playing styles. Continue reading →

If you haven’t met music by the multi-talented songwriter, vocalist and pianist then your time has come to familiarized yourself as I have with an exquisite and tasteful blend of soul, jazz and pop that’s attractively wrapped in the voice of Nina Vidal.

Nina’s music embodies the intricacies of soul with fresh interpretations to extend immeasurably her volume beyond the context of her veracious talent as a songwriter and vocalist. With her second album “The Open-Ended Fantasy,” will find itself securely on the wings of her enthralling self-titled debut which replaced Norah Jones’ smash hit “Come Away with Me” as the #1 Contemporary Jazz cd in the country. Continue reading →

Over the languorous course of 33 years and 16 albums, Michael Franks has mesmerized an international legion of fans with his one-of-a-kind artistry. Seamlessly weaving lyrics of stunning sensuality, wit, reflection and literary eloquence over music that tastefully utilizes top shelf shadings of jazz, soul, pop, chamber and music from around the globe, Michael Franks the songwriter has set a bar in the music world that places him as nothing less than a statesman of song craft. His best known works include “Popsicle Toes,” “Monkey See-Monkey Do,” “The Lady Wants To Know,” “When the Cookie Jar is Empty,” “Tiger in the Rain,” “Rainy Night in Tokyo” and “Tell Me All About It” (covered by artists ranging from Diana Krall and Natalie Cole to Manhattan Transfer and the Carpenters). As if that weren’t enough, Michael Franks the singer is gifted with a gentle, deliciously expressive voice – identifiable from note one. -BIO (Michael Franks.com)

New York, NY – Verve Forecast releases the new album Fellowship by acclaimed singer Lizz Wright on September 28. The 12-track gospel-tinged record features a number of traditional songs long held sacred by Wright alongside originals by guest performers Angelique Kidjo, Me’Shell Ndegéocello, Joan as Policewoman and social activist and Sweet Honey in the Rock founder Dr. Bernice Reagon, among others. Produced by Brian Bacchus, Fellowship is the follow-up to Wright’s 2008 record The Orchard, which “CBS News Sunday Morning” declared “one of the best albums of the year” while the Los Angeles Times called it “a creative breakthrough for Wright, whose smoldering, sensual voice now has a vision to go with it.”

Fellowship continues Wright’s celebrated collaboration with acclaimed singer-songwriter Toshi Reagon, who co-produced the new album and wrote/performed on a number of tracks on Wright’s previous release. The record features several traditional songs that Wright grew up with in church including “Amazing Grace,” “Sweeping Through the City,” and a gospel medley featuring “I’ve Got a Feeling” and “Power Lord.” Wright also covers a number of songs by noted writers including “Presence of the Lord” by Eric Clapton and “In From the Storm” by Jimi Hendrix. Dr. Bernice Reagon performs on two tracks, including “I Remember, I Believe” which she composed.

Lizz Wright, whom The Wall Street Journal calls “a thoughtful, sensitive soul,” has received critical praise from Time Magazine, NPR, Ebony, Essence, New Yorker and Billboard, and her music is featured in several major television shows. Wright was born in the small town of Hahira, Georgia, to a local minister. She grew up traveling through the South singing with her parents and siblings. She first came to national attention in 2002 when she performed in a series of Billie Holiday tribute shows. Since then, she’s released Salt (2003), Dreaming Wide Awake (2005) and The Orchard (2008), all three critical and fan favorites.

Sergio Mendes, producer, composer, arranger pianist, band leader and cultural sage, continues his magical ride with Bom Tempo, a beautiful slice of rhythmically fresh inspiration from the internationally celebrated artist. He remains as vibrant and vital today as he was when leading Brasil ’66 to international superstardom. Mendes’ modern sensibilities and ultra sensitivity to the intricate and beautiful Brazilian musical language he himself helped create has always been his focus. Born Tempo expands the maestro’s use of color, texture and street derived energy, highlighting his mastery of authentic Brazilian rhythms and composition. In the end, Bom Tempo is a brilliant summer day celebration.

Within the next couple of months the wait for new music is nearing and end by one of the most substantial, celebrated, and provocative voices in jazz composer and musician Cassandra Wilson has a new album for her fans on Blue Note Records. Now, until this manifests lets take a moment and revisit “Glamoured” by the Jackson, Mississippi native to rejuvenate our spirit and encompass an intricate collaboration of vocal, and lyrics equaling in a tone of near perfection. —Rob Young | The Urban Flux

One of the simple pleasures of life is putting a Cassandra Wilson disc into the player and hitting “start“. Her voice takes me to a spot that few singers know how to reach…and “Glamoured” proves, once again, why Cassandra is one of our most important performers.

This release is a great mix of brilliantly conceived covers and incredible originals. One of the fascinating things about being a CW fan is following the growth of her talents as a songwriter. While the promise was always there (think “Redbone“), with each new release, her songwriting skills have grown stronger, to where we now have originals that rival the covers she chooses. No where is this more evident than on the toe tapping “I Want More“, with an outstanding drum contribution from Terri Lyne Carrington, and “On This Train” where that haunting smoky voice just shines through – this is the type of song that reminds you why you love Cassandra’s vocals.

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One of the most successful German pop stars is a jazz musician, as the magazine Musikexpress aptly summed it up: Till Brönner, the exceptionally gifted trumpeter, succeeds in directly touching people with his beautiful melodies between hard bop, honky-tonk and hit parade and lends a distinctive new sound to Jazz – with brilliant clarity and undisguised expressiveness. On his new album “Rio” (2008) are performing guest-musicians like Annie Lennox, Sergio Mendes, Aimee Mann, Milton Nascimento, and Kurt Elling. A relaxed summer-album with Brazilian music produced by Larry Klein, an all-star-album between Jazz, Bossa Nova, Samba and Pop.

More often then not, our appetite for music exceeds beyond the scope of jazz. Occasionally, we spread our wings by wrapping our minds around the world of music that awaits us. With that said, you can expect periodic postings about upcoming Gospel, and Alternative Soul artists.

Critically acclaimed vocalist and song stylist Lalah Hathaway continues the musical legacy with her Stax Records debut “Self Portrait,” a contemporary urban soul collection that takes you on a journey through joy and sadness and everything in between. Features the new single “Let Go.” The daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway, Lalah is well respected in both Jazz and R&B. This album is an introspective journey into the contemporary adult R&B world. Self Portrait will truly satisfy Lalah’s core fans and is so refreshing that it will guarantee new fans will become Lalah fans. – Amazon.com

The album title is a reference to “Bluey” Maunick’s musical evolution since his childhood on the small island of Mauritius (off the coast of Madagascar). “When I was a kid, my first taste of music came from the beaches of Mauritius,” he says. “I spent a lot of time listening to the hotel bands, or the bands playing around the bonfires and cookouts. It’s a small island, so there were beaches everywhere. So for inspiration for this album, I went back to various beaches around the world – in Italy, Indonesia and elsewhere – and just let the music flow.” – Bluey Maunick

“This album by far has finally captured the voice of Anthony that I fell in love with over a decade ago” … – Kirk Franklin

To the majority of us, that transitional chasm of chaos is often overlooked in hopes of glimpsing the outcome, on the other side. But to a perceptive few, like Evans, the unknown between where were are and where we’re going is the all-important next step. Whether we stumble in the dark, or firmly plant our feet on faith, it is all up to us.

Press the button on this new CD and it’s obvious that there is a fresh focus to Anthony Evans life – and music. ” … – AnthonyEvans.com

Ayo is a German born artist, the offspring of a Nigerian father who had come to Germany to study in the 1970s, and sometimes worked as a DJ, and a mother who is a gypsy. Ayo’s rather unusual name means joy in Yoruba. Her rich cultural background is also reflected in her musical influences. She grew up amidst Pink Floyd and Fela Kuti, the Soul Children and Bob Marley, and many others.

Ayo’s nomadic lifestyle brought her to live between Paris and New York, two capitals that accurately sum up her musical identity. In Paris, word got around fast, and she held initial solo concerts with her guitar, opened for Omar, the British soul brother and jammed alongside Cody Chesnutt. – Myspace.com/Ayo